Sex Scandal Results In Sergeant`s Demotion

January 12, 1992|Staff reports

A Broward Sheriff`s Office sergeant whose officers had sex with a convenience store clerk while on duty has been demoted to road patrol.

The demotion of Sgt. Robert Helton was the final disciplinary action stemming from a 1990 sex scandal at the Circle K on Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Pembroke Park, sheriff`s officials said on Saturday.

A clerk told police she had oral sex with several deputies on late-night duty over four months in exchange for extra protection.

The Circle K is the same store where Deputy Patrick Behan was shot and killed while he filled out a report in his car on Nov. 13, 1990. Two teen-age boys were arrested and charged with the murder.

Sheriff`s Office investigators determined the shooting had no connection to the sex charges. The clerk had told police that Helton sat outside in his squad car while deputies were inside with her. Helton should have known what his men were doing, sheriff`s spokesman Ralph Page said.

``We just thought he was better as a deputy than a supervisor,`` Page said. ``He`s the last one. It`s a closed case.``

The Sheriff`s Office fired two of the accused deputies, Robert Richmond and Charles Williams. Investigators recommended a 16-week unpaid suspension for Deputy John Candler Jr., an 11-year veteran. Candler remains suspended while he contests the action.

Investigators cleared two other deputies, Walter Avery and Dennis Harris, of the allegations.